Carpenter&#39;s divider



Dec. 18, 1934. w J DES ROBERTS 1,984,467

CARPENTER S DIVIDER Filed 001:. 13, 1952 Inventor Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNI-TED STATE5 rarest or ies Application October 13,

3 Claims.

My invention relates generally to dividers and particularly to carpenters dividers, and an important object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which may be used with convenience and accuracy in confined spaces such as are encountered in carpentry and the like work when fitting beams and the like in corners and small spaces. i

It is also an important object of my invention to provide dividers of this character which are extremely rugged in construction without being expensive to manufacture, and which. are economical also in the respect of affording means for using a pencil to a very short length without requiring replacement thereof. v

It is also an important object of my invention to provide meansfor holding the pencil in ad justed positions, which means permit quick, accurate and easy adjustment of the projection of the pencil and an accurate relation of the pencil to the remainder of the dividers.

Other objects and. advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawing, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the embodiment.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of one leg of the embodiment.

Figure 3 is an edge view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the other leg.

Figure 5 is an edge view of Figure 4 and Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the same, the numeral 5 generally designates the embodiment which comprises the complete leg 6 and the pencil carrying leg '7.

The complete leg 6 comprises a short rectangular straight portion 8 whose lower end merges into a downwardly tapered portion 9 which terminates in a sharp point 10.

It will be observed that the tapered portion 9 is not arranged in axial extension of the rectangular or squared portion 8, but is arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the portion 8 so as to be directed slightly toward the pencil carrying leg '7.

The upper end of the squared portion 8 is curvedly reduced so as to produce the shoulders 11 and 12 defined by a circular plate 13 which is ar- 1932, Serial No. 637,665

ranged concentrically of the curvatures of the shoulders 11 and 12 and thereby assumes a position offset from the longitudinal axis of the squared portion 8 as seen in Figure 2. This plate 13 is provided with a central opening I l.

The pencil carrying leg 7 has an upper portion 15 similar to the upper portion 8 of the complete leg. As at the portion 16 at the lower end of the portion 8 of the leg 6, the pencil carrying leg 7 has at the lower end ofthe squared portion 15 a merger 17 into downwardly tapered portion 18 which is at an angle to the portion 15 similar to the angle which the portion 9 has to the portion 8 of the companion leg. However, instead of being tapered to a sharp point like the companion leg 6, the portion 18 of the pencil carrying leg '7 is laterally enlarged as indicated at 19 to provide a semi-circular channel for receiving the side of the pencil 20. The lower end of the portion 18 of the pencil carrying leg '7 is cut off flatly at 21 much above the point of the companion leg. At the upper part of the enlargement 19 of the portion 18 of the pencil carrying leg there is provided a laterally extending block 22 which is arranged at an angle to both the portion and the portion 18 of the, pencil carrying leg. This block 22 is provided with a bore 23; vertically formed therein to slidably receive the pencil through the block. The bore 23 is of a size to fairly snug- 1y receive a standard size pencil 20 and hold the same in slidable engagement with the channel in the lower part of the leg, so that engagement of the parts is preserved without binding. For holding the pencil against upward movement and for giving it the proper frictional engagement in the channel and in the bore 23, I provide a spring member 24 which is inserted and held in a suitable opening 25 outward of the opening 23 in the block 22. This spring member 24 has a portion 26 which is sharpened at its lower end. This portion 26 is angularly directed toward the pencil 20 and is adapted to engage the sharpened end against the side of the pencil so that the pencil may be readily moved downwardly but will not slip upwardly from an adjusted position. It will be observed that the effective end of the spring member 24 engages a lower part of the pencil so that this part of the pencil is forcibly urged into proper relation with the channel in the lower part of the leg and preserved in the proper alinement with the leg and the upper part of the switch is held by the edges of the bore 23 for promoting accurate work when the divider is used.

The upper end of the portion 15 of the pencil carrying leg 7 has, instead of the single circular plate 13 a pair of circular plates 27, 23 between which is received the single plate 13 of the complete leg of the divider. The plates 27, 28 are provided with central openings 29. The openings 14 in the plate 13 and the openings 29 in the plates 27, 28 are to be registered and have passed therethrough a bolt 30 which has on one end thereof a thumb nut 31 which may be tightened thereon for securing the legs in adjusted relation to'each other in an obvious manner.

The comparatively-great size and'bulk of the plates 13 and 27, 28 provide an unusual bearing surface of great strength and ruggedness, while the heavy construction of the leg andttheirjformation also contribute to the ruggedness and mechanical efliciency of the device of rny'invention. The shortness of the leg comparativelyespeaking, also helps the maneuverability of the device in small places and in corners. paratively great length of the tapered portions 'of the legs compared to thestraight portions thereof enables marking arcs and circles of relatively great-diameter which condition is aided -by the'slight inward=--direction ofthe lower tapered parts of the legs.

It is tobe observed that the point of thepencil'20 is enabled-to have a'true'relation to the leg 6, thereby promoting accuracy and balance in the device therein.

Though I'have shown-and-described herein a preferred embodimentof my invention, it is to beg-definitely understoodthat I'do not desire to limit the application-of-myinvention thereto, and any change pr changes may bemade-in material and structure and arrangement 'ofparts, within the spirit of"tl1e'invention andthe-scope of the subjoi-ned claims.

It will be observed that'the means provided for mounting a-ypencilpnthe leg 7 permits the-use Howeven: thecomjusted, the point of the pencil will be at the point of the leg 6 and the straight parts 8 and 15 of the legs will be parallel. However, if the pencil be adjusted too short this parallel relation will not be present and the pencil point will not meet the point of the leg 6 and inaccurate work will result.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In carpenters dividers including a pair of legs pencil carrying means on the outer side of one of saidlegasaid means comprising a block having a pencil receiving bore, a portion of said ineans being provided with a channel with which said-borecommunicates, said channel being angulated with respect to said one leg to permit a pencilalocated in said bore and channel to extend a relatively great distance above said block,

and spring means extending downwardly from saidiblock and having a sharpened portion engaging the side of the pencil below said block to clampthe pencil insaid bore and channel.

- 2.-In-carpenters"dividers including a pair of legs -ha-vinglowerportions angulated toward each other; one of said portions-having adivider point, pencilholdingmeans on the outward'side of one -of said legs including a-block provided with a =pencil receiving-bore, a portion on said legs lower deg, a member on--said one *leg provided with a channel communicating-with said I bore and a substantially rlaligned therewith, a spring projecting irom -said block and having an angulated sharp endportion, a pencil in said bore and channel, "said sharpendportionengaging the pencil below said block to force the pencil against sides of said channel and said bore to clamp the same therein and against longitudinal movement in one direction.

WILLIAM J .DESfROBERTS. 

